Prevention of breast cancer in the general population: Is it a cultural issue?

Abstract

e22511 Background: Since 2006 breast cancer has been the main cause of cancer mortality in Mexican women representing 14% of cancer related deaths. In Mexico the incidence and mortality of breast cancer have increased in recent decades and will continue to rise. Despite the vast information media on the prevention of this cancer the diagnosis of between 50 - 70% of cases is carried out in advanced stages probably due to a limited understanding of knowledge and practices of early prevention for breast cancer. Methods: The study universe was 375 Mexican women between 30 - 58 years of age of any socioeconomic level in the open population of Orizaba Veracruz who signed the informed consent form. The socioeconomic level was determined with the index of the Asociación Mexicana de Inteligencia de Mercado y Opinión Pública. The level of knowledge was determined by means of a 10 question survey type test on knowledge and practices of early prevention of breast cancer, based on Norma Oficial Mexicana 041. Period: March-May 2019. Results: Of the 375 women, 145-38.7% corresponded to high, 109-29.1% to medium high, 62-16.5% to medium, 26-6.9% to medium low, 17-4.5% to upper low and 16-4.3% to low socioeconomic levels, respectively. Mean age: 43.17 +7.82. Levels of knowledge were high in 28-7.5%, medium in 211-56.3%, low in 134-35.7% and null in 2-0.5% women respectively. 360-96% received information about prevention of breast cancer . 248-66% knew 1 to 3 risk factors, 101-27% >4 risk factors and 26-7% no risk factors. 338-90% know where to go in case of finding an abnormality in their breasts. 272-72% know the age at which they should perform the first self examination, 76-20% know the age at which they should go with trained health personnel for the exploration of their breasts. 233-62% know the age at which the first mammogram should be performed, 91-24% know the age at which the last mammogram should be performed and 8-22% know the frequency of time that a mammogram should be performed. 247-65% have had the 2 corresponding mammograms in the last 4 years. We recognize that this study may have as a limitation that the sample of patients comprises a specific group of Mexican women, however, due to its heterogeneity, its demographic characteristics could be applicable to Mexico and Latin America. Conclusions: Knowledge of the prevention of breast cancer is medium observing a direct relationship between the socioeconomic level and the level of knowledge. Effective communication between health professionals and women must take into account the socioeconomic level of patients in order to achieve a greater understanding of it and potentially reduce the incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer. It is important not to stop emphasizing the importance of continuing medical education and patient education programs for the early detection of breast cancer by patients and first contact physicians as well as primary and secondary prevention strategies which are vitally important in developing countries.